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State to appeal August asylum judgment

The State has lodged an appeal against a High Court judgment delivered in August on the rights of international-protection applicants, according to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC).

The human-rights body said yesterday (19 November) that it had received formal notice of the appeal and would not be making any further comment on the substance of the case until it had concluded.

The court had granted a declaration that, in failing to provide accommodation for international-protection applicants, the State had breached their human rights.

‘Emergency’

The commission began the proceedings in December 2023, when there were 259 international-protection applicants unaccommodated. It says that the figure currently stands at 2,897.

Michael O’Neill (IHREC head of legal) said: “This was a humanitarian emergency last year, and it remains so today. It is imperative that every person arriving in Ireland seeking international protection has their basic needs meet – including accommodation, food, and access to medical care and hygiene facilities.”

Meanwhile, IHREC has welcomed the formal appointment of Liam Herrick as Chief Commissioner by President Higgins. Herrick will take up the post on 25 November.